(KLZA)-- Dr. Richard Clopton, a Professor of Biology and Downey Family Honors Chair at Peru State College, was the recipient of the Clark P. Read Mentor Award from the American Society of Parasitologists in College Station, Texas, in July of 2022. Dr. Joanna J. Cielocha, Associate Professor of Biology at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, presented the award. Dr. Cielocha is a former Peru state graduate, faculty member, and mentee of Dr. Clopton.

Dr. Clopton is the 19th recipient of the Clark P. Read Mentor Award and “the first to be recognized for mentoring primarily in an undergraduate institution.

Dr. Clopton “has mentored 41 undergraduate students in his research program. These graduates have served as co-authors or lead authors on 17 manuscripts … and 32 of the 41 students …. have gone on to pursue graduate-level education.

Dr. Clopton attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Agriculture and Entomology, master's degree in Entomology, and Doctoral degree in Parasitology.

Dr. Clopton conducted his post-doctoral research in the Department of Entomology at Texas A & M University before coming to Peru State in 1995 to teach, conduct research, and create an undergraduate research program. Dr. Clopton currently “teaches … serves as an advisor to biology majors and has other service-related obligations. He is credited with over 60 scientific publications and has presented papers and spoken at numerous seminars throughout his career. In 2017 Dr. Clopton received the Barb Lewellen Award, which honors an outstanding faculty, staff member, or administrator who has distinguished themself through the betterment of students and student life at Peru State College. He received the Peru State College Teaching Excellence Award in both 2017 and 2004 and was named the Downey Family Honors Chair in Science in 2002.